It was right about then that Woodcraft Rangers began to move out of the "Lone Ranger" era and into the modern urban world inhabited by the kids it tries to serve.

The result is a version of the Los Angeles-based organization that might be unrecognizable to Ernest Thompson Seton, the Scottish-Canadian naturalist and animal-fiction writer who founded its forerunner in Connecticut more than 100 years ago.

Out is the Native American model in which children joined "tribes," their achievements rewarded with felt feathers sewn onto orange sashes, and earning ranks like Keeper of the Wampum.

In is a recreation and enrichment program that seeks to respond to social trends and local needs, working with more than 70 Los Angeles public schools to provide educational activities to about 8,500 6- to 18-year-olds.

Camping is still an option. But activities now range from homework help to skateboarding, from science to art, from computer programming to music.

In many ways, Woodcraft Rangers seems to have outgrown its name.

While the umbrella organization is called Woodcraft Rangers, its after-school programs have been rebranded as Nvision.

"It really was about changing with the times and the needs of our communities," said Mostovoy, who came to Woodcraft Rangers as a consultant in 1989 and has been CEO since 1994.

Alan Lewis, principal of Beach Elementary School in Arleta for the past five years, said he has seen improvement in those programs.

"The kids are exposed to such a variety of activities, and it's really geared to the children," Lewis said. "You're not just sitting in a classroom, teaching them something they may not be interested in. The kids show so much enthusiasm.

"I think the people in charge try hard to find ways of connecting with the kids."

Despite school budget cutbacks, several hundred students at Beach Elementary take part in Woodcraft Rangers, Lewis said.

Woodcraft Rangers has 38 full-time employees, 500 in all. It draws most of its annual budget of $9 million from federal, state and local government grants, and contracts with school districts.

The organization also welcomes donations from foundations, businesses and individuals. Its holiday donations drive is under way.